"Led by Grand Tutor Chu, several famous scholars in the capital are no longer just asking for the King of Shu to return and take charge of the Eastern Palace. In the past two days, there have been rumors among the officials they influence that you are the sycophant who obstructed the peace talks between the Qi and Jing Kingdoms, stirring up a foul atmosphere in the court …"
Li Yi didn't continue her words. Instead, he asked, "Tomorrow is the 13th. How are the preparations going?"
MIngzhu nodded and said, "Father has already personally issued the edict. It can be announced at any time. You can arrange the time yourself."
Then, she frowned and looked at him. "If you really had any ideas, you should have told me in advance. Their target this time is you. Don't always look so indifferent."
"It doesn't matter if I didn't …" Li Yi said somewhat helplessly, "The Chu family has been caught red-handed, so we have no choice but to work hard. In terms of influence in the imperial court, all of us combined are no match for that grand tutor. If they want to talk, let them talk. We can't shut their mouths …"
MIngzhu was startled. She asked in confusion, "What blackmailed the Chu family?"
"The Chu family …" Li Yi had just opened his mouth when he suddenly looked at Li Xuan, who was standing to the side. He asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"No." Li Xuan shook his head without hesitation.
"Then why do you keep looking at me?"
Li Xuan shrugged. "Other than you and MIngzhu, there are only the two of you here. If I don't look at you, am I supposed to look at myself?"
It was one thing to look, but to look for an hour and mumble while looking was quite abnormal.
He glanced at Li Xuan and said to MIngzhu, "Let's go over there and talk."
…
On the bustling streets of the capital, the Goddess of Luo Shui tilted her head and looked at Li Yi. She asked in confusion, "Where are we going?"
Li Yi said casually, "We have nothing to do anyway. Let's just walk around."
Zeng Zuimo looked at him and asked, "Do you remember what day it is today?"
Li Yi was puzzled. "April 13th, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing …" She shook her head and looked ahead. She pointed and said, "There's a new jewelry shop over there. Let's go take a look …"
The Goddess of Luo Shui wasn't in a good mood today. Along the way, she didn't buy anything. She lowered her head and was lost in her thoughts. Only when the two of them were far away from the bustling city and there were fewer and fewer people around them did she finally come back to her senses. She looked around and looked at Li Yi. She asked doubtfully, "Why did we walk here?"
Li Yi raised his head and looked at the plaque above the gate, which read 'Zeng Residence'. He held her hand and smiled, "Let's go in."
Zeng Zuimo's body almost subconsciously paused.
This used to be the place she was most familiar with, but also the place she was most unfamiliar with. It had carried her sweetest and happiest memories and was also the beginning of the longest nightmare she had ever had.
She held Li Yi's hand tightly and looked back at him. Their eyes met for a moment. Then she turned back and let out a long sigh. She nodded and said, "Let's go."
The two of them stepped on the stone steps. Li Yi pushed the door open.
The heavy wooden door made a creaking sound, revealing a dozen figures behind the door.
"Uncle Hou." Zeng Zuimo looked at the old man who was bowing at the front. After a moment of daze, she looked back with surprise on her face. "Uncle Qi, Nanny Hua, Xiao Mei, you are Xiao Mei. How did you …"
"Miss!" The dozen people all bowed.
The old man at the front raised his head and said with a smile, "Miss, welcome home."
…
Her mind was blank. Holding Li Yi's hand, she was led into the Zeng Residence by him. Only then did she realize that this place was completely different from the last two times she had been here.
More than a decade ago, when she was still in the Zeng Residence, there should be a stone pavilion on the left side of the garden. Whenever it rained, she didn't want to stay in the stuffy room. She would sit in the stone pavilion, watching the mist in the sky and listening to the pitter-patter of rain …
She didn't see the stone pavilion the last two times she came to the Zeng Residence. It must have been torn down. This time, it miraculously appeared in front of her eyes. Whether it was in the position or the direction it was facing, it was exactly the same as she remembered.
The previous two times she saw a few small houses that didn't exist for more than a decade. They must have been built in recent years. This time, they disappeared as well, and an empty space under the wall reappeared. A long time ago, when the weather was fine, she would play shuttlecock with the maids in the Zeng Residence. In the entire Zeng Residence, she was the only one who could play shuttlecock without hitting the ground after a hundred times …
The decoration in the front hall was also very different from the last time. Tables, chairs, screens … These things began to overlap with the Zeng Residence in her memory.
This was the Zeng Residence, the only Zeng Residence in her heart.
She looked at Li Yi and wanted to ask him something. However, Li Yi had already pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "This is your birthday present. Do you like it?"
Only then did she realize what he meant when he asked her, "Do you like it here?" the last time they came to the Zeng Family's house, he asked her, "Do you like it here?"
She didn't know how he got the Zeng Residence from those people. She only knew that this was his birthday present for her, and that was enough.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
A sharp and piercing voice suddenly rang out from outside. She hurriedly escaped from Li Yi's embrace and saw two fair-skinned, beardless men walking in.
The eunuch glanced at them and said coldly, "His Majesty has an edict. Kneel and accept it!"
Whoosh!
Other than Li Yi and Zeng Zuimo, all the servants of the Zeng Residence knelt on the ground and didn't dare to raise their heads in fear.
Zeng Zuimo was about to kneel as well, but Li Yi grabbed her wrist and glared at the eunuch.
The eunuch shivered and immediately put on a smile that was uglier than crying. He quickly said, "Miss, you don't have to kneel. His Majesty specifically said that the court has wronged Sir Zeng. Miss, just stand and listen …"
He opened the edict and said in a loud voice, "The edict reads: The previous Minister of Revenue, Zeng Shijie, was loyal and dutiful. He worked hard and made great contributions. However, he was framed by a villain and the court misjudged him. Now that the investigation has been carried out, we should set things right … Reward the Zeng Clan with ten thousand gold and a thousand bolts of silk. The Zeng Clan will be restored. Sir Zeng was wronged and will be posthumously conferred the title of Marquis of Loyalty."
After reading it, he looked up anxiously and said, "Miss Zeng, please accept the edict."
Seeing that she was standing there in a daze, Li Yi took the edict. The two eunuchs sighed in relief and left immediately.
Li Yi held the imperial edict, looked at her, and said in a low voice, "The imperial edict begins with the imperial edict. It is meant to announce to the world that the Zeng family was wrongly accused, and the world will return their innocence to them …"
She looked up with tears in her eyes. "This, this is also your …"
Li Yi wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and said softly, "This is the second gift I'm giving you."
As soon as he finished speaking, his lips were kissed by her. It wasn't a light touch like before. Her tongue pried open his teeth. Although the movement was jerky, it was wild and passionate like never before …
The servants of the Zeng Clan had already left. When Ceng Shichun came in, he happened to see this scene.
"Ahem!"
After standing there for a long time, he finally couldn't help but cough.
"Ah!"
The Goddess of Luo Shui was like a frightened rabbit. She pushed Li Yi away in a hurry and clasped her hands together. She said helplessly, "Second Uncle …"
Clang!
Ceng Shichun felt like he was struck by lightning. The thing in his hand fell to the ground.
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